Sporting News Names Darren McFadden Player of the Year

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ Darren McFadden was named the Sporting News Player of the Year, it was announced on Friday. McFadden and Rimington Trophy winner Jonathan Luigs were also named to the Sporting News All-America team.

McFadden, already named the Doak Walker Award winner, the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the SEC Coaches’ Offensive Player of the Year and an AFCA, Walter Camp and Rivals first-team All-American, rushed for 1,725 yards this season, an Arkansas single-season record. His 2,172 all-purpose yards in 2007 is also an Arkansas single-season record. He rushed for 100 yards or more in nine of 12 games this season.

The Little Rock, Ark. native, Arkansas’ all-time career leader with 4,485 rushing yards and 5,743 all-purpose yards, led the SEC and ranked fourth in the nation in rushing with 143.8 yards per game in 2007. He is also third on the SEC career rushing list with 4,485 yards.

Additionally, he is the second player in SEC history (with Herschel Walker) to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.

Luigs is the centerpiece of a University of Arkansas offensive line that has cleared the way for the SEC’s top rushing attack (296.8 yards per game) which ranks third in the nation The junior is riding a streak of 28 consecutive starts at center for the Razorbacks and leads the offensive line with a 90.4 percent grade average including team-leading averages in run (86.1 percent) and pass (96.9 percent) blocking. He cleared the way for two 1,000-yard rushers in Darren McFadden (1,725) and Felix Jones (1,117).

Luigs has already been honored with the Rimington Trophy, the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, as a Walter Camp and Rivals first-team All-American and as an SEC Coaches’ and AP All-SEC first-team honoree.